Agents find armed illegal aliens near desert camp

BY BLAKE SCHMIDT, SUN STAFF WRITER

Border Patrol Agents at a small remote field camp in the desert east of Wellton caught three illegal aliens trying to cross the border Wednesday, two of whom were armed.

The agents chased six subjects on foot, but three other subjects in the group were able to get away.

Wednesday afternoon, Border Patrol helicopters saw a sport utility vehicle illegally enter the United States, and informed agents at Camp Desert Grip — a tactical substation located near the border in the desert east of Wellton, which is manned by agents from the Yuma and Tucson sectors.

When Tucson and Yuma sector agents responded to the scene, six subjects got out of the vehicle and fled on foot, trying to hide in a small mountain range known as the O'Neill Hills. Agents caught three of the six subjects. The three who caught were illegal aliens from Mexico.

Two of the illegal aliens were found to be armed, one with a .30-.30 rifle and another with a 9 mm pistol. The vehicle was reported stolen out of Scottsdale.